University of Massachusets Athletics
Saturday, February 26
Amherst, Mass.
4:30 PM
University of Massachusetts
12-15,5-10Atlantic 10
62
vs
77
VCU
20-7,13-3Atlantic 10
1
2
F
VCU
41
36
77
Massachusetts
23
39
62
Minutemen Fall To Rams, 77-62
February 26, 2022 | Men's Basketball
UMass shot over 54-percent in the second half to score 39 points.
AMHERST, Mass. – The University of Massachusetts men's basketball team fell to VCU 77-62 on Saturday afternoon in the Mullins Center. The Minutemen (12-15 Overall, 5-10 Atlantic 10) shot over 54-percent in the final half to score 39 points while VCU (20-7 Overall, 13-3 A-10) answered each UMass run with one of its own.
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It was a defensive battle to start as the Minutemen forced the Rams into four turnovers through just over four minutes played before a 9-0 VCU run that gave them an early 15-5 advantage. UMass started the game just 4-of-20 from the field as VCU built its largest lead at 28-13 with just over five to go in the first half.
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The Minutemen followed by making four of their next five shots, stringing together an 8-2 run to bring the score to 30-21. VCU answered with an 8-0 run and maintained its lead by making nine of its last ten shots to end the half to lead 41-23 at the break. The Rams shot just under 58-percent in the first 20 minutes of play and finished the day over 52-percent from the field.
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UMass got more production offensively in the final 20 minutes as the Minutemen shot 13-of-24 from the field in the second half. The Minutemen scored eight unanswered, capped off by a Trent Buttrick slam before VCU followed with six unanswered to stretch its lead to 20. Buttrick finished with a team-high 12 points and added eight rebounds.
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UMass strung together a late scoring run, this one a 10-2 streak to make it a 71-56 game with just under four minutes remaining.
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Michael Steadman added 11 points and eight rebounds for a UMass team that finished the night with a 36 to 27 advantage on the glass. Greg Jones pitched in nine points and seven rebounds off the bench while Noah Fernandes finished with nine points, three rebounds and four assists.
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The Minutemen resume Atlantic 10 action on Monday at 7 p.m. in the Bronx against Fordham.
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For complete coverage of the UMass men's basketball team, follow the Minutemen on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @UMassBasketball and online at www.UMassAthletics.com.
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It was a defensive battle to start as the Minutemen forced the Rams into four turnovers through just over four minutes played before a 9-0 VCU run that gave them an early 15-5 advantage. UMass started the game just 4-of-20 from the field as VCU built its largest lead at 28-13 with just over five to go in the first half.
Â
The Minutemen followed by making four of their next five shots, stringing together an 8-2 run to bring the score to 30-21. VCU answered with an 8-0 run and maintained its lead by making nine of its last ten shots to end the half to lead 41-23 at the break. The Rams shot just under 58-percent in the first 20 minutes of play and finished the day over 52-percent from the field.
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UMass got more production offensively in the final 20 minutes as the Minutemen shot 13-of-24 from the field in the second half. The Minutemen scored eight unanswered, capped off by a Trent Buttrick slam before VCU followed with six unanswered to stretch its lead to 20. Buttrick finished with a team-high 12 points and added eight rebounds.
Â
UMass strung together a late scoring run, this one a 10-2 streak to make it a 71-56 game with just under four minutes remaining.
Â
Michael Steadman added 11 points and eight rebounds for a UMass team that finished the night with a 36 to 27 advantage on the glass. Greg Jones pitched in nine points and seven rebounds off the bench while Noah Fernandes finished with nine points, three rebounds and four assists.
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The Minutemen resume Atlantic 10 action on Monday at 7 p.m. in the Bronx against Fordham.
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For complete coverage of the UMass men's basketball team, follow the Minutemen on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @UMassBasketball and online at www.UMassAthletics.com.
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Team Stats
VCU
UMass
FG%
.527
.382
3FG%
.455
.158
FT%
.737
.708
RB
27
36
TO
17
22
STL
13
9
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
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